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As Mooney’s car disappeared around the corner, another drove into the yard.

‘Mark, Sergio!’ Grace cried, running towards them. She bear-hugged the boy.

Boyd raised an eyebrow. Bryan shrugged. Grace didn’t do hugs. Not normally. She took her nephew by the hand and led him into the house, talking about hot chocolate and marshmallows.

‘Was that Mooney driving out?’ Boyd asked.

‘Yeah,’ Bryan said. ‘The fucker now thinks I murdered Councillor Wilson’s wife. It seems that if someone sneezes around here, Wilson will want my ugly mug pasted on wanted posters.’

Boyd studied his future brother-in-law, reading the worry etched in the deeply furrowed lines around his eyes. ‘Has Mooney got cause to suspect you?’

‘Maybe.’ Bryan leaned on his spade. His dog circled his legs before lying at his feet protectively. ‘You see, I thumped Denis Wilson yesterday. The bastard arrived here shouting and roaring at me. I’d had enough abuse at that stage, so I drew out. Got him good and proper.’ He smiled fleetingly at the memory before the grave look returned, dragging down his expression. ‘It was a mistake. I shouldn’t have let him vex me so much. It’s just… at a time that should be the happiest of my life, I feel the world isagainst me. I know Grace is hurting and I haven’t a clue how to deal with any of it.’

‘Maybe you need a holiday.’ Boyd struggled to find the right thing to say. ‘Have you a honeymoon planned?’

‘I don’t even think there will be a wedding. How can I marry your sister with all this suspicion hanging over my head?’ Bryan paused to take a laboured breath. ‘Will you see if Lottie can talk to Mooney on my behalf?’

Boyd cringed. He didn’t want to tell Bryan that she was one of those who was sceptical of his innocence. ‘I’m afraid Lottie and I aren’t on speaking terms at the moment.’

‘Oh, I forgot. Grace told me she asked her to leave. Sorry about that.’

Boyd squinted through the misty sun. Bryan seemed to have aged considerably over the last few days. ‘I didn’t know that had happened. God, now Lottie will be furious at me. Why did Grace do that?’

‘I think they had words. Lottie is staying at a hotel. Go talk to her.’

‘No, I’m done with talking. She’s bull-headed, and when she gets on her high horse, there’s no talking her down.’

‘I’m so sorry. All this is my fault. I should never have asked her to get involved in the first place.’

‘Don’t worry about it. I know Lottie. She’d have found some way to get involved. Trouble has a habit of following her.’

77

‘Sit down,’ Robert Hayes said, brandishing the knife in their direction. ‘Both of you.’

They did so, not having any choice. He was the one holding the long-bladed knife.

Lottie seethed, but kept her eyes directed on the weapon. ‘Perhaps you should get rid of that. We’re not going to harm you. You have no reason to protect yourself from us.’

‘Is that so?’ His mouth curved into a sneer as he pointed the knife at her. ‘You’re a cop. I’d smell one a mile away. You’re that Lottie Parker detective, aren’t you?’

‘I’m on holidays and I’m not involved in any role with the murder investigations. Despite that, I believe you’ve been following me. Killing anyone you think might be able to rat on you.’

‘Rat on me?’ His face twisted into a knot of confusion. ‘About what?’

Was he playing stupid?

‘You know full well what this is about, Robert. What I don’t understand is why you didn’t just disappear. There was no need to kill so many innocent people.’

The knife wavered in his hand. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’

‘Why are you here then?’

‘I… None of your business. Why areyouhere?’ He twisted her question back on her.

‘You know why.’

He sat then, keeping them both directly in front of him. ‘Is it something to do with Edie?’